crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第25节
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now have gone to the box or even into the room for anything in the
world。
But a sort of blankness； even dreaminess had begun by degrees to
take possession of him； at moments he forgot himself； or rather；
forgot what was of importance； and caught at trifles。 Glancing；
however； into the kitchen and seeing a bucket half full of water on
a bench； he bethought him of washing his hands and the axe。 His
hands were sticky with blood。 He dropped the axe with the blade in the
water； snatched a piece of soap that lay in a broken saucer on the
window； and began washing his hands in the bucket。 When they were
clean； he took out the axe； washed the blade and spent a long time；
about three minutes； washing the wood where there were spots of
blood rubbing them with soap。 Then he wiped it all with some linen
that was hanging to dry on a line in the kitchen and then he was a
long while attentively examining the axe at the window。 There was no
trace left on it； only the wood was still damp。 He carefully hung
the axe in the noose under his coat。 Then as far as was possible； in
the dim light in the kitchen； he looked over his overcoat； his
trousers and his boots。 At the first glance there seemed to be nothing
but stains on the boots。 He wetted the rag and rubbed the boots。 But
he knew he was not looking thoroughly； that there might be something
quite noticeable that he was overlooking。 He stood in the middle of
the room； lost in thought。 Dark agonising ideas rose in his mind…
the idea that he was mad and that at that moment he was incapable of
reasoning； of protecting himself； that he ought perhaps to be doing
something utterly different from what he was now doing。 〃Good God！〃 he
muttered 〃I must fly； fly；〃 and he rushed into the entry。 But here a
shock of terror awaited him such as he had never known before。
He stood and gazed and could not believe his eyes： the door； the
outer door from the stairs； at which he had not long before waited and
rung； was standing unfastened and at least six inches open。 No lock；
no bolt； all the time； all that time！ The old woman had not shut it
after him perhaps as a precaution。 But； good God！ Why； he had seen
Lizaveta afterwards！ And how could he； how could he have failed to
reflect that she must have come in somehow！ She could not have come
through the wall！
He dashed to the door and fastened the latch。
〃But no； the wrong thing again。 I must get away； get away。。。。〃
He unfastened the latch； opened the door and began listening on
the staircase。
He listened a long time。 Somewhere far away； it might be in the
gateway； two voices were loudly and shrilly shouting； quarrelling
and scolding。 〃What are they about？〃 He waited patiently。 At last
all was still； as though suddenly cut off； they had separated。 He
was meaning to go out； but suddenly； on the floor below； a door was
noisily opened and some one began going downstairs humming a tune。
〃How is it they all make such a noise！〃 flashed through his mind。 Once
more he closed the door and waited。 At last all was still； not a
soul stirring。 He was just taking a step towards the stairs when he
heard fresh footsteps。
The steps sounded very far off； at the very bottom of the stairs；
but he remembered quite clearly and distinctly that from the first
sound he began for some reason to suspect that this was some one
coming there； to the fourth floor； to the old woman。 Why？ Were the
sounds somehow peculiar； significant？ The steps were heavy； even and
unhurried。 Now he had passed the first floor； now he was mounting
higher； it was growing more and more distinct！ He could hear his heavy
breathing。 And now the third storey had been reached。 Coming here！ And
it seemed to him all at once that he was turned to stone； that it
was like a dream in which one is being pursued； nearly caught and will
be killed； and is rooted to the spot and cannot even move one's arms。
At last when the unknown was mounting to the fourth floor； he
suddenly started； and succeeded in slipping neatly and quickly back
into the flat and closing the door behind him。 Then he took the hook
and softly； noiselessly； fixed it in the catch。 Instinct helped him。
When he had done this； he crouched holding his breath； by the door。
The unknown visitor was by now also at the door。 They were now
standing opposite one another； as he had just before been standing
with the old woman； when the door divided them and he was listening。
The visitor panted several times。 〃He must be a big； fat man；〃
thought Raskolnikov； squeezing the axe in his hand。 It seemed like a
dream indeed。 The visitor took hold of the bell and rang loudly。
As soon as the tin bell tinkled； Raskolnikov seemed to be aware of
something moving in the room。 For some seconds he listened quite
seriously。 The unknown rang again； waited and suddenly tugged
violently and impatiently at the handle of the door。 Raskolnikov gazed
in horror at the hook shaking in its fastening； and in blank terror
expected every minute that the fastening would be pulled out。 It
certainly did seem possible； so violently was he shaking it。 He was
tempted to hold the fastening； but he might be aware of it。 A
giddiness came over him again。 〃I shall fall down！〃 flashed through
his mind； but the unknown began to speak and he recovered himself at
once。
〃What's up？ Are they asleep or murdered？ D…damn them！〃 he bawled
in a thick voice； 〃Hey； Alyona Ivanovna； old witch！ Lizaveta Ivanovna；
hey； my beauty！ open the door！ Oh； damn them！ Are they asleep or
what？〃
And again； enraged； he tugged with all his might a dozen times at
the bell。 He must certainly be a man of authority and an intimate
acquaintance。
At this moment light hurried steps were heard not far off； on the
stairs。 Some one else was approaching。 Raskolnikov had not heard
them at first。
〃You don't say there's no one at home；〃 the new…comer cried in a
cheerful； ringing voice； addressing the first visitor； who still
went on pulling the bell。 〃Good evening； Koch。〃
〃From his voice he must be quite young；〃 thought Raskolnikov。
〃Who the devil can tell？ I've almost broken the lock；〃 answered
Koch。 〃But how do you come to know me？
〃Why！ The day before yesterday I beat you three times running at
billiards at Gambrinus'。〃
〃Oh！〃
〃So they are not at home？ That's queer？ It's awfully stupid
though。 Where could the old woman have gone？ I've come on business。〃
〃Yes； and I have business with her； too。〃
〃Well； what can we do？ Go back； I suppose； Aie…aie！ And I was hoping
to get some money！〃 cried the young man。
〃We must give it up； of course； but what did she fix this time
for？ The old witch fixed the time for me to come herself。 It's out
of my way。 And where the devil she can have got to； I can't make
out。 She sits here from year's end to year's end； the old hag； her
legs are bad and yet here all of a sudden she is out for a walk！〃
〃Hadn't we better ask the porter？〃
〃What？〃
〃Where she's gone and when she'll be back。〃
〃Hm。。。。 Damn it all！。。。 We might ask。。。。 But you know she never does
go anywhere。〃
And he once more tugged at the door…handle。
〃Damn it all。 There's nothing to be done； we must go！〃
〃Stay！〃 cried the young man sudd
